The Jim Thorpe Area School District has presented a plan to reopen schools safely for the 2020-21 school year. The presentation to the July 13, 2020 Curriculum Meeting is below as well as the plan, which was approved by the school board on July 29, 2020, and submitted to PDE.
JTASD Reopening Plan 2020-21 presentation
Phased School Reopening Health and Safety Plan Template.pdf
The district's intent is to open in the yellow phase of the plan, contingent on current conditions, providing the following options for parents and their students:
Option #1: In-Person Learning
The Jim Thorpe Area School District will offer a hybrid in-person learning environment with a remote learning day for students PreK - 12. PreK - 5 will attend school in-person Monday - Thursday with Friday being a remote learning day from home. Grades 6 - 12 will attend school at 50% capacity, with half of the students attending school Monday and Tuesday and the other half of the students attending Wednesday and Thursday with Friday being a remote learning day for all students. When not physically in school, students will connect with their teacher remotely via Google Meet on their school day schedule. The school day will be shortened to allow for remote learning delivery.
Option #2: Olympian Learning Connection (Remote Learning from Home)
The Jim Thorpe Area School District will offer a remote learning from home option called the Olympian Learning Connection (OLC). Students will be taught the Jim Thorpe Area curriculum, be instructed by Jim Thorpe Area School District teachers, and be expected to follow the school day schedule set by the teacher. They will utilize their district provided iPad or MacBook Air laptop. Lessons will be synchronously (live instruction) delivered with some asynchronous (offline assignments) components as deemed necessary by the teacher as well as their specials classes. Attendance will be taken, assignments will be completed and submitted and state mandated tests (PSSA’s/Keystones) will need to be administered under normal circumstances at the child’s school building at a determined day(s) once test schedules are established. Students in grades K-5 will have a designated teacher. Grades 6-12 will follow their normal school day schedule.
Olympian Learning Connection Parent Signup Form
Olympian Learning Connection Fact Sheet (PDF)
OLC Parent & Student Agreement
Please see the videos below for a sample lesson conducted under this model:
Grades K-5: Sample Lesson
Grades 6-12: Sample Lesson
Option #3: eBridge Academy, Cyberschool/Charter School/HomeSchool
Parents still have the right to choose the district’s supported eBridge Academy program, homeschool, or enroll in a cyber/charter school program.
To help explain the options, please see the following resources:
Videos
Grades K-5 Reopening Plan Video
Grades 6-12 Reopening Plan Video
Parent Informational Meeting 8-12-20
Resources
JTASD Reopening Plan Fact Sheet (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Modified Dress Code for 2020-21
Videos of the Reopening Plan presentation, parent informational meetings, and reopening videos are posted to the JTASD Olympian Way YouTube Channel.